Spike: Aw, two more minutes, Twilight! I'm just getting to the really good part! The Mane-iac is about to—

Twilight Sparkle: "The Mane-iac"?

Spike: The Power Ponies' most evil nemesis! She was the power-mad owner of a hair-care product company. A tragic accident at her shampoo factory in Maretropolis not only gave her mane strange new powers, but also caused her to go completely insane! She and her henchponies are planning to break into the Maretropolis Museum and steal the Electro-Orb, so she can use it to power up her doomsday device! Of course, the Mane-iac wouldn't have even known if Hum Drum hadn't slipped up and told her all about it.

Twilight Sparkle: Hum Drum?

Spike: Nah, the guy in the blue boots and pointless red cape. The Power Ponies' bumbling and totally useless sidekick. The Power Ponies have to stop the Mane-iac or Maretropolis is doo-hoo-hoo-hoomed!

Twilight Sparkle: Believe me, Spike. If anypony understands what it's like to get caught up in a really good book, it's me. But if we're going to make any progress fixing up Luna and Celestia's old castle tomorrow, we all have to do our part. We don't want to be too tired to lend a hoof... or claw.

Pinkie Pie: A little more to the left! No, the other left! [quickly] Awesome! That's perfect right where it is! On to the next painting!

Spike: You sure you don't need any help?

Applejack: Nah, that's okay.

Pinkie Pie: [quickly] We have everything under control!

Spike: Dash?

Rainbow Dash: I'm good!

Spike: [sighs] Isn't there anything I can help you with, Twilight?

Pinkie Pie: [quickly] Don't worry about it, Spike! It's all good!

Twilight Sparkle: I think she's right. It looks like we've got it, Spike. Looking great, everypony! Why don't you find a quiet spot and finish reading your comic? Aren't you right at the part where Hum Drum was about to stop the villain?

Spike: Hum Drum never stops the villain. He's just there for comic relief. [splash and clatter] [grunts]

Twilight Sparkle: Rarity, lemme give you a hoof with that!

Spike: I could do it!

Twilight Sparkle: That's okay, Spike.

Pinkie Pie: Pony power! Weehee!!

Spike: [sigh]

[bucket clatters]

Spike: [to himself] Mane-iac breaks into the museum... Okay, here we go. ...Ugh, what a surprise! Hum Drum is in the way again while the Power Ponies do all the work! I guess I know what that feels like... [gasps] Wait. What? How can that be the end?! What's... that? "You can... retr-" What? "You can... return..." Urgh! I know I saw a magnifying glass laying around the last time I was here...

Applejack: Spike! Where are ya, Spike?

Rarity: We're breaking for tea and biscuits!

Rainbow Dash: Spike!

Spike: [reading] "You can return to the place you started when the Mane-iac is... defeated." Huh? "Take a closer look to join the adventure in this book"? What does that even mean? Whoa! Cool!

Rainbow Dash: Come on out, Mane-iac! Or the Power Ponies are comin' in!

[thunder crash]

Twilight Sparkle: So much for "element of surprise".

Spike: Guess I'll just hang back here doing nothing.

[electricity crackling]

Fluttershy: Oh, I don't think she's home. Maybe we should just come back later.

Mane-iac: [evil laughter]

Rarity: She's home.

[garage door opening]

Applejack: Time to Power Pony up!

Pinkie Pie: Ooh! Nice catchphrase!

Twilight Sparkle: Freeze ray!

[thwap]

Rarity: It's an improvement, darling.

[thud]

Pinkie Pie: [giggles]

[banging]

[crash]

Rarity: Ooh, I do so love a functional accessory!

Fluttershy: [whimpering]

[lightning strikes]

Henchpony: My hair!

Rainbow Dash: Seriously? You aren't even just a little angry right now?

Twilight Sparkle: Nice work, Power Ponies! Now let's take care of the Mane-iac and get ourselves home!

Mane-iac: I don't think so! I have a city to destroy, and I'm not about to let the Power Ponies stop me! Not this time!

Rainbow Dash: Just watch us!

Spike: The Hairspray Ray of Doom! It stops you in your tracks and renders your powers useless!

[hairspray hissing]

[clunk]

Rarity: We'll just see about that!

[hairspray hissing]

[ice cracking]

[tink]

Mane-iac: [evil laughter]

Spike: Fluttershy, please! Just a little anger?!

Fluttershy: Well, I'm not so much angry as I am concerned, bordering on terrified!

[hairspray hissing]

Spike: Don't spray!

Mane-iac: [cackles] Oh, Hum Drum, why in all of Maretropolis would I use the Hairspray Ray of Doom on you? Rather pointless, don't you think?

Main cast: [shouts of concern]

[door slamming]

[clang]

Spike: What am I supposed to do? I'm useless. No wonder my friends never need me to do anything important. They're the ones with superpowers. They've probably already figured out how to escape.

[clang]

Spike: Or not!

[cracking]

[timer ringing]

[hairspray hissing]

[cracking]

Mane-iac: Congratulations, Power Ponies! [laughs] You shall live just long enough to see me fire... the instrument of your destruction! [cackles] Once the Electro-Orb has powered it up completely, this cannon will amplify the power of my mane one million times, expelling an energy blast that will cause everypony in Maretropolis's mane to grow wild! [laughs] You will be my weapon's first victims, and there is nopony who can save you from this fate! [evil laughter]

Fluttershy: Ahem. I don't mean to interrupt, but aren't you forgetting about somepony?

Spike: I'm not like Hum Drum! When my friends really need me, I do come through! And they need me now!

Mane-iac: [laughs] I see dementia must be a side-effect of prolonged exposure to the Hairspray Ray of Doom. [laughs] Tonight, we stand upon the brink of immortality, for we collectively – though, mostly me – have finally defeated our most hated nemeses! We have hurled the brush of badness into the now fearful face of [laughs] goodness, and have struck a blow for freedom in the name of oppression! And nothing will stop us! [laughs]

Fluttershy: Oh, goodness! Are you okay? [to the Mane-iac] Are you kidding me? I mean, I know you're evil and everything, but [getting frustrated] you hurt a teensy, little, harmless firefly?! Really?! Well you're just a great, big, meanie! [voice getting deeper] There! I said it! What makes you think you're so special?! Like the rules of common courtesy don't apply to you?! [voice getting even deeper] Why don't you pick on somepony your own size?! [roars]

[controls buzzing]

[laser firing]

Fluttershy: [roars]

Mane-iac: [yelps]

Fluttershy: [roaring]

[smashing noises]

Fluttershy: [spits]

Mane-iac: My mane! [laughs] My maaaaaane! [laughs insanely]

[thud]

[electricity crackling]

Spike: Once again, the day is saved by—

Main cast: [yelping]

[thud]

Rainbow Dash: Awesome!

Applejack: Whoo-ee!

Main cast: [excited chattering]

Rainbow Dash: Did you see how I was raining down a storm of justice at the end there?!

Applejack: You catch how I was wieldin' that lasso?

Pinkie Pie: Cupcakes?

Rarity: How did you—

Pinkie Pie: Eh, we had a good half second before we got sucked back out of the comic, and the Maretropolis bakery was only sixty-five blocks away!

Spike: I'm just glad to be back.

Twilight Sparkle: We wouldn't have made it without you, Spike. And I hope you realize that just because we don't always need your help, it doesn't mean that we don't think you're helpful.

Spike: And that you don't have to have superpowers to be a super friend.

Main cast: ["Mm-hmm!", "Yeah!", "You got it!", general agreement]

Twilight Sparkle: But I do have one question. Where exactly did you get that comic book?

Spike: This one I got in Canterlot at the House of Enchanted Comics. Well, I didn't know it meant they were literally enchanted!

Main cast: ["Aw, come on!", overlapping disbelief]

Spike: I thought it just meant, like, the comics they sold there had really enchanting storylines! Hey, wait up! I'm an important part of this team, remember?!